DETROIT LIONS NOTES: Ryan Broyles among 3 wide receivers who will see more action

By PAULA PASCHE

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

ALLEN PARK -- With Nate Burleson gone for the season with a broken leg and Titus Young out of Thursday's game due to bad behavior, other Detroit Lions wide receivers will get opportunities.

Expect to see much more of rookie Ryan Broyles, Mike Thomas and Brian Robiskie.

Broyles, who is coming off ACL surgery, has not seen much action in eight games. He's had nine receptions for 93 yards in the last three games.

Broyles, the all-time NCAA leader in career receptions, is more familiar with the system than the other two.

"This is a tough game to step into and play as a rookie, I don't care what position you're playing,'' quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "We get about as exotic of looks as you get from defenses and to come in as a rookie receiver and face some of the weird coverages we get to try to stop Calvin Johnson, (Broyles has) done a good job.''

The Lions acquired Thomas in a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 31.

"I feel good I think I've had a good week and a half to get acclimated, I feel good,'' Thomas said. "Just trying to make sure me and Matt are on the same page. I'm excited to just get out there and play.''

Robiskie was signed on Oct. 24 when Burleson was placed on injured reserve. He has played in just one game and has been inactive in the last three.

Delmas has been missed

Free safety Louis Delmas (knee) returned to practice Tuesday for the first time in weeks although on a limited basis.

Coach Jim Schwartz said no determination has been made on whether Delmas will play on Thanksgiving.

"I don't know yet to tell you the truth, the track would be short track this week. He has a chance,'' Schwartz said.

Delmas missed the last three games. He has played in just three all season. He had knee surgery on Aug. 7.

"I think throughout the year the guys that have played safety have done a really good job communicating, they've done a nice job of working within the scheme,'' Schwartz said. "We haven't always been at full strength back there, we've had different players go in and things like that.

"But there's nothing like having the leader of your defense, a guy who is literally the heart and soul of our defense, a guy that's been experienced and played well within our defense, there'd be nothing like having that guy back,'' Schwartz said

Boren back in Michigan

Wolverine fans weren't exactly thrilled when guard Justin Boren bolted from Ann Arbor to Columbus, Ohio, in the spring of 2008. At the time he made the statement that family values had eroded since the arrival of coach Rich Rodriguez.

Well, Boren is back in Michigan. He was signed to the Lions practice squad on Tuesday.

Ins and outs

Missing from practice Tuesday were Jeff Backus, who injured his hamstring Sunday and couldn't finish the game, along with cornerback Drayton Florence who finished the game, but was diagnosed with a concussion on Monday.

Defensive tackle Corey Williams (knee) who has missed the last two games also returned to practice. Nick Fairley started in his spot Sunday and had his best game so far for the Lions.

Wide receiver Titus Young, who was sent home on Monday for behavior issues, also did not participate in practice as expected.